Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Dana Mentink (e books free to read TXT) 📖

The suspect was in the back patient room with the doctor who was called into the center. They don’t normally house doctors, only nurses.”

“He fired from the front, so we need to assume he now has the other nurse hostage. You circle around back. We’ll take the front. Be careful. This suspect is wounded and armed. Not a good combination.” He pulled out his radio. “What channel are you on?”

The constable told him and rushed off.

“Hannah, I know you’re trained in defensive tactics, but please stay behind me and follow my lead.”

“Understood. What’s the plan?”

He pulled out his cell phone. “I’m going to call inside and hope he picks up.” He Googled the clinic’s name and entered its number. He could hear the phone ringing from behind the glass door. He waited. Two rings. Three. Four. “Come on, pick up.” Six. Seven—

“What do you want?” the rough voice blared.

“This is Constable Layke Jackson. With whom am I speaking?”

“You don’t need to know. Get off the property or I’ll start by shooting this pretty nurse.”

Great, he had her hostage. “Listen, no one needs to get hurt. We want to help you.”

He cussed. “You can help by going away!”

“Not gonna happen, man. We don’t want you. We want your boss.” He had just broken another of his rules… Never misinform a suspect. He gripped his cell phone tighter. Truth was, they did want him, too. If he had his way, everyone in this gang was going down.

Silence.

He caught his attention.

“What will you do for me?”

“Let the nurse and doctor go. Then we’ll talk.”

A crash sounded at the back of the clinic.

“Someone’s at the rear door. I told you to stay out.”

The other constable.

Layke grabbed his radio and changed the channel. “Stand down, Constable.” His command was rough, but he needed the officer to obey. He was almost through to the suspect. He put his cell phone back to his ear. “I instructed the officer to stay outside.”

“I don’t believe you. You were warned.”

Click. Beep. The dial tone buzzed in his ear like an annoying mosquito that wouldn’t go away. He clicked off and shoved the phone into his pocket. That conversation had not gone well.

A shot from inside was followed by a woman’s scream.

They had to move. Now.

“Breach on three,” he yelled into his radio. He holstered his weapon and held the crowbar tightly. “Hannah, hold my radio to my mouth.” He needed both hands to break the glass.

She obeyed and pressed the radio button.

He moved to the side with her to his right.

“One. Two. Three. Go! Go! Go!”

A crash sounded at the back.

He slammed the crowbar into the front door, shattering the glass.

* * *

Hannah stuffed Layke’s radio into her back pocket and raised her weapon. Her pulse hammered fear through her veins as she waited for Layke to clear the doorway. This was the first time she’d ever been part of a breach in this nature. Sure, she’d been trained on it but never had to do one with living, breathing humans inside. Her duties mostly included inspecting vehicles coming across the border. She braced for what was about to happen.

Layke threw the crowbar aside and unleashed his gun. “Stay behind me.” He eased through the door, pointing his Smith & Wesson in different directions.

Her boots crunched on the fallen glass, the sound matching her thudding heartbeat. She crouched low and mimicked Layke’s posture.

Layke edged around the corner with his weapon in front. “Police! Stand down!”

“Stay back, or I swear I’ll kill her.” The injured suspect inched forward with the petite blonde nurse in front of him and a gun thrust into her side. The man’s wild eyes darted back and forth as his hand shook. His wiry red curls peeked out from under his tuque.

The doctor sat on the floor clutching his wounded leg, blood pooling around him.

Layke took another step.

The local constable appeared in the hallway but remained hidden.

Layke raised his left fingers slightly in a stop position. “No one move.”

Hannah stole a peek at the constable. Would he get the hint to stay hidden? She anchored herself beside Layke.

“Bud, the doctor is hurt. He needs attention. Let’s end this.” Layke took another step.

“Stop! I don’t want to hurt her, but I will if I have to.” He squeezed harder.

The nurse moaned.

“What’s your name?” Layke asked.

“Rob.”

“We don’t want you, Rob. Cooperate with us and we’ll let the crown attorney know you helped us.” Layke inched closer.

Hannah held her breath. Would the man listen without someone else getting shot? Lord, help us to end this situation peacefully.

“He’ll kill me if he knows I talked and, believe me, he’ll know.”

“Who? Your boss?”

Rob waved his gun toward Hannah. “How about we swap? You give me Hannah and I’ll let you have the nurse.”

Hannah flinched. How did he know her name and what did he want with her?

Layke’s face twitched and he raised his gun higher. “Not gonna happen.”

Hannah stepped forward into the line of fire. “Why do you want me?”

Layke reached around and pushed her back. “Behind me.”

Rob tilted his head. “Oh. You’re sweet on her, aren’t you? Don’t blame you. She’s pretty.” He sneered, revealing his cigarette-stained teeth.

“I’ll shoot you before I let you take her.” Layke moved to the left.

Where was he going?

Rob dragged the nurse to follow Layke’s stance. Out of the way of his peripheral vision of the other policeman.

Smart thinking, Layke.

The constable edged around the corner and moved behind the reception desk.

“What’s your boss’s name?” Layke asked.

That’s it. Keep him distracted.

The constable moved out from behind the desk and inched his way forward.

Hannah once again held her breath.

“You think I have a death wish? You’re dumber than I thought, Constable Jackson.”

Layke shifted his stance. “What can you tell me about him?”

The man scoffed. “Let’s just say the boss is everywhere and knows all about your investigation.”

How? Hannah’s mind raced to try to figure out how that was possible. This ring spread far if they knew their names and were able to follow their case.

“What—”

The officer hiding